Paxton Fountain

▼ Paxton Fountain Quick Links

The Paxton Fountain in Wheeling

In a communication to the city councils of Wheeling on the 10th of September 1878, James W. Paxton—president of the North Western Bank of Virginia in 1860 (renamed National Bank of West Virginia in 1863), advisor to Governor Pierpoint under the Reorganized Government of Virginia, and one of the principle advocates for West Virginia statehood—presented the city with the fountain located on Capitol square. The fountain, which came to be known as the Paxton Fountain, was formally unveiled and accepted by the city, with imposing ceremonies, November 9th, 1878.

Location

▶ Formerly sat in front of the West Virginia State Capitol building (1876-1885), later the old City-County building, facing Chapline Street, midway between 15th and 16th Streets. It is said that when the City-County Building was being demolished in 1956 an attempt was made to move the Paxton Fountain but it broke beyond repair.

Ohio County Public Library

The Ohio County Public Library serves all persons who live in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, which includes Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and Tyler counties. Residents in Jefferson, Belmont and Monroe counties of Ohio and Washington, Greene and Allegheny counties of Pennsylvania may also receive library services.